Portrait of an original Remington New Model Army revolver

[Oyvind]

150 years after it left the gates of the Remington factory I got my hands on an original transistional Remington New Model Army revolver. I've tested it with roundballs and conical balls from original moulds. You can read a write-up here: Portrait of an Original Remington Percussion Revolver

 

[Crawdad1]

Good stuff and great information Oyvind!!! A lot of people use the incorrect terminology of the 1858 New Model Army and should be correctly named the 1863 New Model Army.

I take it that the competition is at 25 and 50 meters, standing, one hand hold?

 

[Oyvind]

Thanks, the competitions I participate in are shot at 25 and 50 metres, standing with one hand according to the MLAIC rules. The course of fire is 13 shots of which the 10 best counts. I'm going to test conical balls even more, but I doubt they will ever get close to the roundball accuraccy.

 

[Crawdad1]

I'm going to test conical balls even more, but I doubt they will ever get close to the roundball accuraccy.

Are you testing with a modern Remington or the original? I would be afraid that competing with an original would be awful taxing on the original's frame and internal parts. I don't know.

 

[Oyvind]

Yes, I've tested with an original. I don't think it hurts to shoot original revolvers – or any other antique black powder firearms for that matter as long as they're in a good condition. They were made to shoot and as long as they're treated and cleaned well I'd say they're better off than antiques hanging a fireplace catching dust.

All MLAIC competitions have classes for both replica and original firearms. The guns have to go through a firearms inspection prior to shooting, both to ensure they're in a safe shooting condition and that they are historically correct.

 

[Crawdad1]

Is that dovetailed front sight correct on the New Model Army???

 

[Oyvind]

My revolver is a transitional New Model Army model that incorporates features from both the Old and New Model Army. The transitional models were early New Army revolvers that had parts from the Old Army production. Mine has the dovetailed cone-shaped sight, but conforms in all other respects to the New Army pattern. The fixed pinched steel sight was a request from the army because the dovetailed sight had a tendency to fall off.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

That Remington New Model Army is still at the local pawn shoo if anyone's interested, price is now $795.

 

[Crawdad1]

I find the competition at the MLAIC interesting and the types of revolvers they choose even more interesting.

Could use more information though on the types, makes and models of the qualifier's revolvers and they loads they have worked up for them.

 

[whughett]

What markings if any are found on these guns. I have a rusted up one identical to the one you are showing, except with the pinched front site. There are no stampings what so ever discernible. The cylinder is frozen to the base pin and someone has tried to drill some of the screws out. Grips are intact. The piece is just a curio now but wonder if it is an original.

 

[Oyvind]

If it's an original, the top barrel flat should be marked "PATENTED SEPT. 14. 1858/ E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION NEW YORK. U.S.A./ NEW-MODEL". The serial number is located on the bottom barrel flat and on the left side of the frame under the grip. Small single letter inspection marks are stamped on most components.

In the original percussion revolver competitions, the Remington New Army and Rogers & Spencer are the ones most commonly encountered. Various Colt revolvers can be seen as well, but most of the time the solid-frame revolvers win the medals. Powder charges are usually quite light. 15–20 grains of Swiss #2 is quite common, followed by some sort of grain filler, and a roundball which is topped by grease.

 

[Crawdad1]

That Remington New Model Army is still at the local pawn shoo if anyone's interested, price is now $795.

That's a pretty good price for an original Remington Elhombre, what condition is it in?